Hurt as an Uber or Lyft Passenger: What to Do

Being injured as a passenger during an Uber or Lyft ride raises significant questions regarding insurance coverage. As a passenger, you almost never share blame, but a recent change in California law has made rideshare passenger accident liability more complex than before. Knowing which coverage applies and acting quickly can protect what you are able to recover.

Steps to Take After the Crash

1. Get medical attention first, even if you feel only shaken, because some injuries only surface a day or two later.
2. If you can, screenshot the ride in the app, photograph the scene and the vehicles, and collect the names and insurance details of every driver involved.
3. Note the rideshare company and, if you can, the driver’s name and vehicle, since that detail speeds up the policy identification process.
4. Be careful with recorded statements and early settlement offers. With less rideshare coverage available after Senate Bill 371 (more on this below), insurers have more incentive to resolve claims quickly and cheaply.
5. Speak to an attorney who can make sure you do not settle for less than your injuries are worth.

Who Pays After a Rideshare Crash

If your Uber or Lyft driver caused the crash, the company’s $1 million liability policy generally applies, as long as the accident occurred while a ride was in progress. If another driver caused the crash, however, the coverage is different. You would look first to that driver’s insurance; and, if that is not enough, to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

How SB 371 Changed Passenger Coverage

Senate Bill 371 took effect on January 1, 2026. It reduced the uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage that rideshare companies must carry during a ride from $1 million per person to $60,000 per person and $300,000 per accident.

This comes into play specifically when the accident was caused by another driver, particularly if that driver is either underinsured or uninsured completely. $1 million in liability coverage is still available when the rideshare driver is determined to be at fault; if this is not the case, the amount of coverage available to you significantly decreases. For a serious injury, $60,000 can be used up by a single hospital stay.

Why Your Own Insurance Now Matters More

Because the rideshare UM/UIM limit is much lower than it used to be, your personal auto policy can make a real difference. Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may stack on top of the rideshare policy, and medical payments coverage, if you have it, can help with early bills.

California has a high rate of uninsured drivers, so the situation the law affects—an at-fault driver with little or no insurance—is more common than some may anticipate. Identifying every available policy is now one of the most important parts of a rideshare passenger accident claim. If you do not carry your own UM/UIM coverage, it is worth considering, since it is the protection most likely to fill the gap created by the new law.

Proving Which Coverage Applies

Rideshare coverage depends on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash, and that information resides within the company’s records. App data, GPS logs, and trip records show whether a ride was active, which can determine how much coverage is available to you.

These records are controlled by Uber and Lyft, so a formal preservation request is often necessary to secure them. As a passenger, you usually cannot get that data yourself; it helps to involve an attorney who can demand it before it is overwritten.

What Compensation Can Cover

A rideshare passenger accident claim can help cover payments for medical bills, lost wages, and the cost of ongoing treatment. For a serious injury, it can also account for pain, suffering, and reduced future earning capacity.

Because the available insurance is now more limited in some situations, reaching full compensation often means pursuing several sources at once rather than relying on a single policy. An attorney can make sure the rideshare coverage, the at-fault driver’s policy, and your own coverage are working together to cover as much of the economic fallout as possible.

Talk to a Bakersfield Rideshare Accident Attorney

Chain | Cohn | Clark helps injured passengers across Bakersfield and Kern County hold the right parties accountable. If you were hurt in a rideshare passenger accident, our attorneys can identify every source of coverage and review your case. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Note: This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Consult an attorney about the specific facts of your case.